BOSS, the British Oil Security Syndicate, who work to reduce crime on petrol station forecourts, has teamed up with Thames Valley Police (TVP) to introduce a new Forecourt Watch scheme. Some 38 petrol station forecourts in the Cherwell and West Oxfordshire areas are covered.
Forecourt Watch between police, BOSS and retail staff seeks to increase awareness, prevention and the reporting and recording of incidents. The Thames Valley scheme is being rolled out to 16 key sites and is the latest addition to 126 schemes in the UK.
Kevin Eastwood, executive director at BOSS, said: “Theft of fuel cost UK garages more than £25 million last year. Our aim is to maintain fuel stations as a safe environment for customers and staff, targeting those people who drive off without paying for their fuel and using service stations as a route to commit more serious crimes. This initiative with Thames Valley Police will help immensely. ”
Sergeant Kevin Tobin, from Thames Valley Police, said: “Working with the police enables garages to reduce thefts from forecourts by an average of 25 a month. One area manager with garages in the Cherwell scheme has seen a substantial drop in losses and he says those forecourts are now his best performing sites. The scheme provides early information on stolen number plates allowing forecourt staff to take action to prevent offences being committed.”
According to BOSS at a local level Forecourt Watch schemes are operating successfully and losses have been shown to fall by up to 55 per cent.
Crime on Britain’s forecourts cost UK fuel retailers £25.7m in 2012, up from £22.2m in 2010, according to the most recent annual forecourt crime survey carried out by BOSS
The main source of the estimated total loss is £20.4m resulting from ‘drive-off’ incidents – up 31 per cent compared to £15.5m in 2010 – with a further £4.2m lost from motorists claiming to have No Means of Payment (NMoP) who then fail to return to clear their debt.
About the British Oil Security Syndicate Ltd (BOSS)
A not-for-profit independent trade organisation seeking to reduce forecourt crime, it was formed in 1991 by the oil industry; membership is available to fuel retailers and oil companies. BOSS is supported by the United Kingdom Petroleum Industry Association (UKPIA), UK Payments Administration and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).
For more information visit www.bossuk.org
